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One-Third of Fukushima Emergency Workers May Have Increased Cancer Risk

One-third of the emergency workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following the March 2011 meltdown could have increased cancer risks, according to a preliminary health risk assessment from the World Health Organization.

The tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011 incapacitated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, led to releases of radioactive material and left the nation reeling. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an increased estimated risk for some cancers for those located in the most contaminated parts of the Fukushima Prefecture and for about one-third of the emergency workers who responded to the disaster.

For the general population both inside and outside of Japan, however, WHO reported no observable or anticipated increase in cancer risk.

“The primary concern identified in this report is related to specific cancer risks linked to particular locations and demographic factors,” says Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health and Environment. “A breakdown of data, based on age, gender and proximity to the nuclear plant, does show a higher cancer risk for those located in the most contaminated parts. Outside these parts – even in locations inside Fukushima Prefecture – no observable increases in cancer incidence are expected.”

Radiation Exposure Among Workers

According to the report, around two-thirds of emergency workers who were inside the nuclear plant are estimated to have cancer risks in line with the general population, while one-third is estimated to have an increased risk. Workers may have been exposed to radiation through internal exposure from inhalation of radioactive material in the workplace; external exposure from radioactive material deposited in the workplace; external exposure from radioactive material suspended in the workplace air; external exposure from proximity to radiation sources within the damaged reactors; or external contamination from radioactive material deposited on the skin or clothes.

The assessment of emergency workers was based on the occupational doses estimated by the operator TEPCO. The exposure assessment focused on 23,172 emergency and mitigation workers, including 5,639 TEPCO employees and 17,533 contractors. Other types of workers who may have been exposed to radiation, including firemen, police officers, rescue workers, volunteers and government employees, were not included in the assessment.

“Based on the results of the internal dose estimation, TEPCO concluded that workers with the highest internal doses were those working in a central control room,” the report notes. “Stable iodine tablets were distributed to emergency workers beginning 13 March 2011. So far, no health effects have been observed for workers exceeding the dose limits.”

All estimates of workers’ doses are considered preliminary as data collection and analysis continues.

The Public Risk

The report notes that the radiation doses from the damaged nuclear power plant are not expected to cause an increase in the incidence of miscarriages, stillbirths and other physical and mental conditions that can affect babies born after the accident.

For people in the most contaminated location, the estimated increased cancer risks over what would normally be expected are:

All solid cancers – approximately 4 percent in females exposed as infants;

Breast cancer – around 6 percent in females exposed as infants;

Leukemia – around 7 percent in males exposed as infants;

Thyroid cancer – up to 70 percent in females exposed as infants (the normally expected risk of thyroid cancer in women over lifetime is 0.75 percent, and the additional lifetime risk assessed for females exposed as infants in the most affected location is 0.50 percent).

For people in the second most contaminated location of Fukushima Prefecture, the estimated risks are approximately one-half of those in the location with the highest doses.

“The WHO report underlines the need for long-term health monitoring of those who are at high risk, along with the provision of necessary medical follow-up and support services,” said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and environment. “This will remain an important element in the public health response to the disaster for decades.”